LVEF ϭ left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEDD ϭ left ventricular end-diastolic diameter; LVESD ϭ left ventricular end-systolic diameter.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We assessed the association between NAFLD and SYNTAX Score (SS) in patients with ACS. Eighty consecutive patients with ACS were enrolled. Patients were evaluated using ultrasound to detect NAFLD and hepatosteatosis stage. The prevalence of NAFLD was 81.2%; median SS was 15. The SS was significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (18 ± 8 vs. 11 ± 5, P = .001). Univariate analysis showed that the stage of NAFLD correlated with SS (r = .6, P < .001). In multivariate binary logistic analysis, increased age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.00-1.10) and presence of NAFLD (OR, 13.20; 95% CI, 2.52-69.15) were independent factors associated with supramedian SS. In conclusion, among patients with ACS, those with NAFLD have more complex CAD as assessed by SS.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate dry matter (DM) yield and seed yield of six leafed and semi-leafless pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes, and to compare them for these traits. Evaluation of genotype × environment (G × E) interaction, stability and cluster analysis were also carried out at eight diverse locations with typical Mediterranean and Mediterranean-type climate during the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 growing seasons. Significant differences were found among the pea genotypes for DM and seed yield on individual years and combined over years, and in all locations. All interactions which related to G × E interaction showed significance (P>0.001) for DM and seed yield. The highest yield (4789 kg ha -1 ) was obtained from the leafed genotype 'Urunlu'. However, stability analysis indicated that for DM yield, the leafed genotypes 'Golyazi' and 'Urunlu' should be grown in low yielding and high yielding environments, respectively. Cluster analysis, based on grouping locations, showed that P101 was the preferred variety in low yielding environments, and P98, in high yielding ones. It was suggested that the use of both stability and cluster analyses might give better results. Comparison of cluster and stability analyses showed that the stability analysis fails to recommend cultivars to different regions where yield potential showed significant differences. It seems, however, that cluster analysis could be a powerful tool to examine G × E interaction. If the number of environments was sufficient, a separate stability analysis could be run in each cluster.Additional key words: adaptation, cluster, leafed and semi-leafless peas, Mediterranean conditions, stability. ResumenInteracción genotipo × ambiente y análisis de estabilidad para rendimiento de materia seca y de semilla en guisante (Pisum sativum L.)Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar y comparar el rendimiento de materia seca (DM) y de semilla de seis genotipos de guisante con hojas convencionales y semiafilas. Además, se evaluó la interacción genotipo × ambiente (G × E) y se realizaron análisis de estabilidad y tipo cluster en ocho localidades de clima mediterráneo, durante las temporadas 2001-2002 y 2002-2003. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre genotipos para rendimiento de DM y de semilla, tanto para años individuales como combinados, así como en todas las localidades. Todas las interacciones G × E fueron Field pea adaptation and stability 97 significativas (P>0,001) para rendimiento en DM y semilla. Se obtuvo la producción más alta (4789 kg ha -1 ) con el genotipo de hoja convencional 'Urunlu'. El análisis de estabilidad indicó que, para rendimiento en DM, los genotipos 'Golyazi' y 'Urunlu' deben cultivarse en ambientes de baja y alta producción, respectivamente. El análisis cluster, basado en agrupamiento de localidades, mostró que la variedad P101 fue la mejor en ambientes de baja producción, y la P98 en los de alta producción. Al comparar los análisis de estabilidad y de tipo cluster se vio que el primero falla al recome...

Objective: To investigate whether or not patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) have increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). Subjects and Methods: Sixty-one patients with newly diagnosed SH and without any known cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Twenty-four subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index without any thyroid dysfunctions were included as a control group. The EAT was measured by echocardiography and thyroid functions were assessed by routine blood examination. Results: Patients with SH had higher EAT values than control subjects (3.6 ± 0.9 vs. 2.8 ± 1.4, p = 0.005). Also, SH patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) ≥10 mU/l had higher EAT than those with SH with TSH <10 mU/l and control subjects (p = 0.013). In addition, while there was significant correlation between EAT and TSH (r = 0.31, p = 0.014) in patients with SH, there was no significant relation between EAT and TSH in normal subjects (r = 0.09, p = 0.64). Conclusions: There was a higher level of EAT in patients with SH compared with normal subjects and a significant correlation between EAT and TSH was found.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) complexity. Consecutive patients (n = 360) with CAD confirmed by coronary angiography were enrolled. Mean CIMT and the overall SYNTAX score (SXscore) were 0.87 ± 0.12 mm and 15 ± 9, respectively. In univariate analysis, there was a significant correlation between the overall SXscore and CIMT (r = .42, P < .001), age (r = .23, P < .001), hypertension (r = .27, P = 0.001), diabetes (r = 0.11, P = 0.02), smoking (r = .24, P = .01), dyslipidemia (r = .2, P = 0.03), and β-blocker use (r = .19, P < .001). In multivariate analysis, CIMT (β = .34, P < .001) and age (β = .11, P < .019) were independently associated with SXscore. We have demonstrated a significant relation between CIMT and SXscore. Although this study is correlative and no causative conclusions can be drawn, our findings suggest that increased CIMT could reflect complex coronary artery lesions.